Lexington, Ky. (WTVQ) — The Lexington Police Department is now testing new technology for their body-worn cameras, ensuring that all officers are safe in any situation.

“If the officer pulls the taser or pulls their firearm it will send out a signal, very similar to what the technology is for, that will automatically start the body-worn camera,” said Brian Maynard, Assistant Chief of Bureau Patrol.

“If there’s multiple things going on at the same time, an officer has two hands right? So, we’re addressing the threat that caused us to pull the weapon. But also part of that is two hands, pulling your weapon is one, radio notifying that you need additional assistance there’s two. What’s the thing we just left out? That’s activating the body-worn camera.”

When a vehicle’s lights or sirens are turned on, the new technology will activate the BWC.

BWC’s are worn on an officer’s chest when on patrol. The next phase is finding where they need to be placed when an officer is driving, so the camera can record the scene.

Every officer in the department must wear a camera, but for more than just their safety.

“Accountability, right transparency. Our community expects us to have our body-worn cameras on, I expect us to have our body-worn cameras on and the officers expect. We’ve seen great benefits not only for when we have complaints that come in for us to be able to review. ”

Although an officer is required to turn their BWC on when they are heading to a scene, there are a few exceptions.

“Officer safety is one of the main ones, it does not get used a lot. There is some, it doesn’t get utilized a lot, when victims or witnesses do not want to be recorded. We try to work through that with them, because it is important for that video to be captured.”

LPD will be testing out this new technology for the next couple of months before they decide if they are going to go ahead with this for the new fiscal year.